Semantically applying formatting to a presentation model

Abstract

The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically generates a color scheme for graphics. In embodiments of the present invention, the graphics software program receives a selection of a color transformation and a semantic model describing a graphic. The graphics software program interpolates color values for different portions of the graphic according to the color transformation and semantic model. In other embodiments, a data structure is provided for a color transformation definition created to assign the color values to portions of the graphic.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-readable media, embodied in at least one tangible media, having a method executable by a computer system for applying a color transformation to a graphic, performing steps comprising:
 receiving a semantic model for the graphic; 
 receiving a color transformation selection for the graphic; 
 automatically determining one or more portions of the semantic model; 
 automatically determining whether the one or more portions should receive the same color or no color; 
 based upon the determinations, automatically determining color values according to a color transformation model; and 
 automatically applying the color values to the one or more portions of the semantic model. 
 
     
     
       2. A computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the color transformation model is a mathematical model for assigning the color values. 
     
     
       3. A computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the mathematical model comprises a proportional model, an exponential model, an alternating model. 
     
     
       4. A computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the color transformation model automatically assigns the color value for the one or more portions of the semantic model by extrapolating from a base color using the mathematical model. 
     
     
       5. A computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the color transformation model assigns the color values for one or more portions of the semantic model by extrapolating a new color from a base color using a color scheme. 
     
     
       6. A computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the color values assigned comprise hue, luminosity, saturation, alpha channeling. 
     
     
       7. A computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the color transformation creates a color transformation definition, wherein the color transformation definition establishes a base color and an offset for the color for the one or more portions of the graphic. 
     
     
       8. A computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a next semantic model; and 
 automatically reassigning the color values according to the color transformation for the one or more portions of the next semantic model. 
 
     
     
       9. A computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a selected hue in a color palette; 
 extrapolating one or more new colors by applying a color scheme to a color wheel; and 
 automatically assigning the one or more new colors to one or more portions of the graphic created by the semantic model, comprising setting a color property of a graphic object to a new color. 
 
     
     
       10. A computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the color scheme is one of a monochromatic scheme, a complementary scheme, an alternate scheme, a split complementary scheme. 
     
     
       11. A computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the color transformation models extrapolates the new colors by determining a new color that is a predetermined distance in the color wheel from the selected hue. 
     
     
       12. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and one or more user interface selection devices, a method for automatically creating a colored graphic, comprising:
 receiving a semantic model for the graphic; 
 receiving a color transformation selection for the graphic; 
 automatically determining one or more portions of the semantic model; 
 automatically determining whether the one or more portions should receive the same color or no color; and 
 based upon the determinations, displaying a rendered graphic with automatically assigned color values for the graphic that relate to one or more portions of the semantic model. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of  claim 12 , wherein the color transformation applies a color scheme to the graphic. 
     
     
       14. A method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving a color transformation further comprises:
 receiving a selection of color model; and 
 displaying a rendered graphic wherein the assigned color values apply at least one color determined from the color model. 
 
     
     
       15. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:
 a first data field containing data specifying one or more portions of a semantic model that receives a color transformation; and 
 a second data field functioning to determine whether the one or more portions should receive the same color or no color and, based upon the determination, to assign a color value to the one or more portions of the semantic model in the first data field according to the color transformation model. 
 
     
     
       16. A computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the second data field specifies a base color value from which to determine color values with the color transformation model. 
     
     
       17. A computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising a third data field identifying the graphic category, which specifies the type of graphic represented by the semantic model. 
     
     
       18. A computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising a fourth data field naming the type of color transformation. 
     
     
       19. A computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the fourth data field provides information for a color transformation selection in a user interface. 
     
     
       20. A computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the fourth data field identifies the color model used in the second data field.